Addressing the gathering, Bhagwat said the RSS respects all religions and does not aspire to political power. He asserted that the organisation is not against any community and has no direct role in electoral politics, even though many of its volunteers are active in public life. “A political party is a separate entity and is not part of the RSS,” he said, responding to perceptions that the Sangh controls political authority in the country.
Bhagwat stated that everyone living in India is a Hindu, clarifying that the term does not refer to a particular religion, ritual, or method of worship. Instead, he described it as a civilisational identity rooted in shared culture and values. “People’s faiths, food habits, and languages may differ, but we are part of the same society and nation,” he said, adding that the idea of “Hindu–Muslim unity” is misleading because Indians are already one society.
Referring to India’s partition, Bhagwat said religion played a key role in the division of the country, but stressed that Islam and Christianity have continued to exist in India. “Conflicts may occur, but the country has remained united,” he said, arguing that forgetting the broader Hindu sentiment was also a factor behind the partition.
The RSS chief also addressed broader social and economic themes. He said strengthening domestic production was necessary, but engagement with the global economy was equally important, provided it was not enforced through excessive tariffs or taxes. Emphasising social responsibility, he urged families to maintain dialogue with the younger generation to prevent issues such as drug abuse and suicide, and encouraged citizens to devote time to national service.
Bhagwat recalled the contributions of social reformers such as Raja Ram Mohan Roy, Swami Vivekananda, and Dayanand Saraswati, saying their ideas helped awaken Indian society during the freedom movement. He also referred to RSS founder Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar, highlighting his role in the independence struggle despite personal hardships.
The event concluded without political announcements, with organisers maintaining that the centenary programme was focused on ideology, social cohesion, and reflection on the Sangh’s century-long journey.
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